Changes to my back garden this year.

Things are really starting to move ahead in your garden now Jen. I loved the trees but they really did cast a lot of shade in your garden and the difference in light levels after removing them is very great. I can see why you needed to have the trellis replaced. Rudbeckias are lovely and bright arent they. Look forward to seeing the next developments :)

I love the yellow rose! I was very surprised that the rowan berries poisoned the dog. My Mum used to make rowanberry jelly which is said to be good with roast meats. We found it rather too bitter to enjoy though.

You are really transforming your garden Jen - its being a pleasure to see it develop!

Thank you Karen. We liked the trees and they did a great job hiding the side of next doors house and it was a hard decision, but at lease we still have the 2 plum and apple trees. Another problem though was those 2 trees were fairly close to the house next door. Saying all that, love that I have more light. Lol. I did the whole packet of Rudbeckia, not thinking they all would grow. Gave half to my daughter for her garden, then spread the rest around to fill in some of the gaps . Plan to replace some with other plants over time but as you say, they do bright up the place :-)

Thank you Sue, hubby did do well in choosing it. :-).

It was the Vet who told us they were poisonous. I have looked up why. It says that raw they have Parasorbic acid. This is mildly poisonous to humans as well. When either frozen or cooked this turns into Sorbic acid which is good for you. Shadow was only 12 weeks old and poor thing was so poorly. Started late Saturday night. Spent all night with vomiting and diarrhoea. By Sunday morning he couldn't even keep water down. Have read that they are very bitter berries so would have thought that would have stopped him but I always said he didn't have a brain when he was younger.

Thank you so much for your last comment. Love that I can keep a record on here of all the changes.

Your garden is comming along lovely Jen lovely colourful boarder there love the roses it will reward you in the end.

Thank you Dawn. Had to add colour as cheaply as I could as have spent a lot of money on the garden this year, (according to hubby :-)). I have definitely gone from someone who wasn't keen on roses to someone who wants more lol. Just got a new catalogue for David Austin come through. If I buy before 12th November I get 15% off, now all I have to do is convince hubby :-).

Shame about the Rowan tree, they are such lovely trees and the flowers and berries are pretty. However, Shadow comes first and you couldn't go through that again.
The trellises look lovely especially with the colourful Rudbeckias. Good luck with training your fig tree :)

Your welcome Jen ha ha I thought men liked woman spending their money I was told by other men it makes them feel a man and they like investing.

Yes I get theDavid Austin catalgue to with discount but I get most of mine from Aldi or the cheaper shop by me which sells David Austin roses.

Thanks Hywel, it was as you say a pretty tree. Shadow is still trouble. His latest is eating all the windfall plums. Was ill and it was all the plum stones. Since there are only a few left on the tree, I've been up a ladder and stripted them all off. Doesn't help that he can open all the back doors and let himself out.

saw the previous owner a little while ago, and she asked what we had been doing, told her that had moved the fig tree. She said it had belonged to the previous owners of next door and when they moved had left it in the greenhouse so she took it and planted it where it was in the shade. I thought that since I had nothing to lose I would have a go at fanning out on trellis. :-).

Think it doesn't help Dawn, that David Austen is about 1/2 hr drive from here. Not seen them cheaper anywhere around here. Lol, hubby wants me to do work on the house over colder months but he has banned me a couple of times so far from more plants and then given in lol.

At least you can wonder around seeing them in live bloom and you can then choose still using you discount. Yes thats the down side not having lots of compition in areas.

Tell your OH you ll do the house if you can have your plants in spring lol. He he so he gives in then at times tell him well flowering gardens put value on the property of the house I am sure he wont moan then.?

Lol, Dawn, don't worry, I have a few tricks up my sleeve :-).

I am sure you have Jen more tricks than I could think of.?

Shadow sounds a handful lol ! keeps you on your toes :D

He is Hywel, Ben luckly is my big laid back one. Puts up with so much from Shadow. So does Star but I think she secretly loves him. During the night, Star sleeps on the spare bed and Shadow sneaks out and gets on the bed with her and they curl up for the night. They think we don't know :-).

lol :) What would we do without our pets !

Life would certainly be boring lol. :-)

Lol Dawn, don't know about that but after all these years I know hubby :-).

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Thank you for the info about the rowan berries Jen. I don't think people would be tempted to eat them raw - they are still very bitter when made into jelly! Its amazing that the dog actually ate any - you'd think one taste would be enough! I so glad Shadow recovered.

Stera, I think at the time he probably eat them whole. Back then I had to buy a anti globble bowl to slow down his eating.

Looks very much lighter doesn't it Jen, I really like Rudbekia they have certainly brightened that part for you, I only have a few that my daughter gave to me and would you believe they have only just started to open, hoping it stays good for a while as they have lots of buds on them, hope the fig tree does well and of course the lovely roses...How are your eyes now??

Thanks Linclass, I got a bit carried away with the rudbeckia lol but as you say, they do britghen up the garden. My eyes are getting there, now getting much longer parts of the day that I don't notice Freddie and his mate (sorry named the floater). Picked up my prescription sunglasses yesterday so that should help when I'm out. Still got a couple of weeks left of not lifting anything heavy. Found that bit hard as I'm not one to ask other people to do things but at least that nearly over. Thank you so much for asking.